Trace-buckle.



Patented De0. l2, I899.

e. HANKE.

TRACE BUCKLE.

(Application filed June 16, 1898.)

No Model.)

agi' m $62 STATES PATENT QFFICE.

GUSTAV IIANKE, OF ADAIR, IOWVA, ASSIGNOROF ONE-HALF TO ED. '1. WVAHLERT, OF SAME PLACE.

TRACE-BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 639,033, dated December 12, 1899.

Application filed .Tnne 16 1898. Serial No. 683,580. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAV HANKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Adair, in the county of Adair and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Trace-Buckle, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to buckles designed more especially for use in connection with traces and heavy harness-straps, and has for its object to enable the trace or strap connected therewith to be quickly lengthened and shortened with the greatest ease possible.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of theinvention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the following description.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction Without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of a tracebuckle, showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the buckle, the billet-loop being omitted. Fig. dis a detail section 011 the line X X of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow, the dotted lines showing the position of the tongue when disengaging a trace or strap therefrom. Fig. 4 is an end view.

Corresponding and like parts are -referred to in the following description and indicated in the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The buckle-frame comprises side loops 1 for attachment therewith of the back and belly-band straps, an end loop 2 for the breeching, a cross-bar 3 to receive the hame-tug, and an end cross-bar 4-. A recess 5 is formed in one side of the end bar 4 at its outer edge and is centrally notched, as shown at 6. The tongue 7 has its butt-end entering the notch 6 and normally rests against the inner wall of the recess 5, whereby said tongue is normally held at right angles to the plane of the buckleframe.

In accordance with the spirit of this invention the tongue 7 is adapted to turn so as to permit the trace or harness-strap to be read ily disconnected therefrom. l-Ienceit has pivotal connection with the buckle-frame Within the recess 5. Journals 8 project laterally from opposite sides of the tongue and are the means whereby the tongue is pivotally mounted, keepers 9 embracing the journals 8 and connecting them with the buckle-frame in such a manner as to admit of the tongue turning freely. The journals may form end por tions of a pin passing through an opening formed in the butt-end of the tongue, and, if desired, the tongue may turn upon the pin, in which instance the pin may be secured to the buckle frame in any desired manner. A spring 10, coiled intermediate of its ends, is mounted upon a journal of the tongue and has its end portions connected, respectively, with the tongue and buckle-frame and serves to hold the tongue against the inner wall of the recess 5 and at right angles to the frame of the buckle-frame, so as to prevent accidental disengagement of the trace or harnessstrap from the tongue. The billet-loop 11 00* operates with the buckle-frame and. tongue to maintain the trace or harness-strap in engage ment with the tongue after the parts have been properly assembled and positioned. WVhen it is required to lengthen or shorten the trace or strap, a backward pull thereon will cause the tongue to turn upon its pivotal support and easily withdraw from the opening of the trace or strap in which it is fitted.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a trace-buckle, the combination with a buckle-frame having a bar recessed in one side, of a swinging tongue supported within said recess and fitting normally against one of the walls of said recess, a spring acting against the tongue and serving to hold the same in contact with said wall, and a sliding trace-receiving bail or loop for the attachment of a hame-strap, substantially as described.

2. In a trace-buckle, the combination with a buckle-frame having an end bar recessed in one side, and having a transverse notch extending into the recess, of a tongue havingits butt-end fitted into the notch and pivotally secured in said recess and bearing against the inner Wall thereof, a spring exerting its pressure upon the tongue to hold the latter in contact with said wall and a sliding tracereceiving loop, substantially as described.

3. In a trace-buckle, the combination with a buckle-frame having an end bar recessed longitudinally thereof in one side and having a notch extending into the recess between the ends thereof, of a tongue the butt portion of which is disposed in said notch, journals extending oppositely from the tongue, keepers for securing the journals within the recess of the buckle-frame, aspring mounted upon one W. H. ORooKE, ED. WAHLERT. 

